الفهرس 
Cover Page Title in EnglishOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Liver fibrosis often develops to irreversible cirrhosis that may be progressively complicated with liver cancer, a common link between chronic liver damage and hepatic fibrosis may be related to oxidative stress and newly altered cells formation. Lysophosphatidic acid, a lipid mediator with a wide range of biological actions, may be a pivotal player in hepatic fibrosis. Autotaxin is a key enzyme in the synthesis of LPA. In vitro finding raise the possibility of involvement of ATX in the mechanism of liver fibrosis or its regeneration. Curcumin exhibit inhibitory effect on ATX, antioxidant activity, hepatoprotective and antifibrotic effect. So, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of curcumin on ATX activity as a target for regulation of liver fibrosis. This study carried out on a total of 40 male albino rats fed on a commercial diet and water, classified into four groups each group contained 10 rats and let for 2 weeks for acclimization before starting the experiment. Group I (control group): This group contain 10 rats and received a basal diet and given 10% tween 20 in a dose of 1ml/rat orally by stomach tube every day for 8 weeks. Group II (Curcumin treated group): This group contain 10 rats and treated only with curcumin that administrated orally by stomach tube in a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight daily for 8 weeks. Group III (TAA treated group):This group contain 10 rats and treated with intraperitoneal injection of TAA in a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight three times a week for 8 weeks. Group IV (TAA and curcumin treated group): This group contain 10 rats and treated with both curcumin in a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight orally by stomach tube daily and TAA in a dose of 250 mg/kg three time a week for 8 weeks. Results of the present study revealed the following: 1- A significant increase in serum ATX activity and AFP concentration in TAA treated group as compared to control group, while in curcumin treated groups there were a significant decrease in serum ATX activity and AFP concentration as compared to TAA treated group. However, curcumin failed to return both ATX and AFP in mixed group to its normal concentration as control one. 2- A significant increase in serum activities of ALT, AST, γ-GT, ALP and LDH in TAA treated group as compared to control group, while in curcumin treated groups there were a significant decrease in serum activities of ALT, AST, γ-GT, ALP, LDH as compared to TAA treated group. However, curcumin failed to return liver enzymes to its normal activity as in control one. 3- A significant decrease in serum total protein, albumin and globulin concentration in TAA treated group as compared to control group, while in curcumin treated groups there were a significant increase in serum total protein, albumin and globulin as compared to TAA treated group. However, curcumin unable to return serum total protein concentration as compared to control group. 4- A significant increase in serum ammonia and decrease in serum urea concentration in TAA treated group as compared to control group, while in curcumin treated groups there were a significant decrease in serum ammonia concentration and increase in serum urea as compared to TAA treated group. 5- A significant increase in triacylglycerol and VLDL-c with a decrease in serum total cholesterol, HDL-c and LDL-c concentration in TAA treated group as compared to control group, while in curcumin treated groups there were a significant increase in serum total cholesterol, LDL-c and HDL-c and decrease in VLDL-c as compared to TAA treated group but curcumin failed to returned its concentration to control. 6- A significant increase in liver weight index in TAA treated group as compared to control group, while in curcumin treated groups, there were a significant decrease in liver weight index as compared to TAA treated group but failed to return its levels to control. 7- Histopathological examination revealed that there were inflammatory cellular infiltration, hydropic degeneration, necrosis and cirrhotic nodular formation in TAA treated group as compared to control group, while in curcumin treated groups there were mild inflammation and necrosis in liver without cirrhosis as compared to TAA treated group but failed to return to normal architecture.